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Straits Times
25 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US pop star Lady Gaga performed a sold out concert in Singapore at the National Stadium on May 18, the first of her four night shows at the venue. SINGAPORE - Lady Gaga's run of four Singapore-exclusive concerts in May raked in an estimated $100m to $150m in tourism receipts for the Republic, say experts. While this was a fraction of the $350 to $500m that Taylor Swift's and Coldplay's concerts in March 2024 generated in total, it still solidified Singapore's position as a premier concert destination in Asia, they said. Figures published by American music and entertainment publication Billboard in end June show that Lady Gaga's Singapore concerts grossed US$40.8 million (S$52 million) from the sale of 193,000 tickets. The monthly report of top-grossing concerts showed that her only stop in Asia on the Mayhem tour, held at the National Stadium on May 18, 19, 21 and 24, averaged around $13 million per night. The stadium can hold about 50,000 people. These were Gaga's only ticketed concerts in May, since her May 3 show on Copacabana Beach in Brazil to 2.5 million people was free. Maybank economist Brian Lee said tourism receipts related to Lady Gaga's concert may amount to between $100 million and $150 million. He noted that the $52 million of revenue of Gaga's May 2025 concerts is half of the $104 million brought in by Taylor Swift's March 2024 concerts in Singapore. Concert revenue primarily refers to ticket sales, whereas tourism receipts encompass spending by overseas visitors on everything ranging from accommodation and food and beverage, to shopping and services. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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In contrast, visitor arrivals jumped 43.5 per cent year-on-year in March 2024. 'The smaller tourism boost from Gaga concerts compared to Taylor Swift is not surprising, given Gaga's smaller and more niche following,' said Mr Lee of the numbers, adding that the uncertain economic climate may have also dampened demand for travel and big-ticket discretionary spending. 'In contrast to Taylor Swift's completely sold out shows, demand for Lady Gaga's was more lukewarm with last minute tickets still available and resellers slashing resale ticket prices,' he added. It appeared that tickets took longer to sell, with checks by The Straits Times showing unsold tickets still available up until the week of the concerts. It was a sentiment mirrored by Associate Professor Kiattipoom Kiatkawsin from the hospitality and tourism management degree programme at the Singapore Institute of Technology, who also attributed Gaga's smaller economic impact to playing fewer days than Swift's six - where the number of tickets and overall tourism receipts may be proportionate to the show size. He also alluded to Swift being at the peak of her popularity during her Eras tour concerts in March 2024, unlike Gaga, whose Mayhem album had only been released a few months prior. 'All three world-renowned artists, including Coldplay, may well be on par when it comes to economic impact as well as building Singapore's reputation as a premier destination for global entertainment for the region,' he said. 'The success of these concerts contributes to a virtuous cycle, where successful events attract more artists, which in turn draws more international visitors and enhances Singapore's brand as a vibrant cultural and entertainment capital,' he added. However, experts also expect a quieter second half of the year for mega concerts on the scale of Gaga, Swift or Coldplay. In terms of marquee events, the Formula One (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix in October has a jam-packed line up with the likes of American rock band Foo Fighters and British legend Elton John, while K-pop megastars Blackpink are due in the Republic in November. While the concert calendar might appear quieter in terms of new announcements for top-tier acts for the second half of year, Prof Kiatkawsin said it does not necessarily indicate a long-term slowdown. It is not uncommon for the second half of the year to have a different rhythm in terms of concert announcements, as the planning and logistics for top-tier international tours often take considerable time, and announcements can be staggered throughout the year, he said. 'Furthermore, Singapore's strategy is not solely reliant on a continuous stream of mega-concerts but also on a diverse portfolio of events, including major sporting events like the F1 Grand Prix, Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), and other cultural festivals,' he added. However, Maybank's Mr Lee said that tourism will not likely be a major boost to Singapore's growth in 2025, as headwinds persist. 'The trade war and heightened global economic uncertainty will likely dampen both business and leisure travel.'
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone is first Indian actress to receive a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has made history as the first Indian actress to receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The announcement was made by The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce via a global live stream on Wednesday (Jul 2). Following the announcement, Padukone's husband, renowned Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh took to his Instagram story to congratulate his wife on her achievement. The couple, who tied the knot in November 2018, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in September 2024. The announcement also revealed a list of 35 honorees selected across five categories: Motion Pictures, Television, Live Theatre/Performance, Recording and Sports Entertainments. Other notable names include Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Demi Moore and Gordon Ramsey. Joining Padukone from the Asia region is acclaimed Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga – the iconic singing voice of Mulan and Princess Jasmine in Aladdin – who received the star under the Live Theatre/Performance category. The 39-year-old Padukone has successfully earned a coveted name in both Bollywood and Hollywood. She rose to fame in 2007 with her debut film, Om Shanti Om, starring alongside Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan. In 2017, she made her Hollywood debut in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, starring with Vin Diesel.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
KRU singer recovers phone he lost at Universal Studios Singapore, thanks the person responsible
A fun family day out at a theme park had a sad ending for Malaysian singer Yusry Abdul Halim of pop trio KRU when he discovered he had lost his phone. Thankfully, the sadness was short-lived as he managed to recover the device. The KRU lead singer took to social media to recount the incident and thank the good Samaritan who found the phone he lost during a trip to Universal Studios Singapore (USS) late last month. In a Jun 30 post on Threads, Yusry shared that he lost his phone near the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure ride while visiting the park with his wife and three kids the previous day. He wrote in a mix of English and Malay: 'Felt quite miserable about it. But what to do… Made a report; hope for the best & expect the worst! Just assume that the phone is lost." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yusry Abdul Halim (@yusryabdhalim) The 52-year-old singer added that after visiting the theme park, he went back to a relative's house for dinner. The story took a happy turn when his wife received a phone call from USS at 7.45pm to say that they had found a phone matching the description of his lost device. Yusry went on to thank the person responsible for returning the phone. "Whoever found an iPhone with a black cover and returned it, may Allah repay your kindness and grant you abundance. Thank you so much.' KRU consists of three brothers: Yusry Abdul Halim, Edry Abdul Halim and Norman Abdul Halim. Formed in 1992, KRU ruled Malaysia's music charts in the 90s and early 2000s with hit songs such as Fanatik, Jangan Lafazkan and Awas. The group was in town for a Jun 28 concert at The Star Theatre. In December 2024, the trio released a new song, Voodoo, six years after they disbanded in 2018. With Voodoo, they became the first Malaysian act to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) for a music video.
